Software gets the attention in a POS rollout, but hardware is where stores waste the shillings — buying impressive machines they barely use, or cheap parts that jam every queue. Here is the practical hardware list for a Kenyan till, and how each choice behaves in real trading.

The till device

You do not need a vendor-priced "POS machine". A normal, dependable device works if the system runs well on it:

  • A desktop or laptop — cheap to replace, familiar to staff, fine on a fixed counter.
  • An Android tablet — great for a tight counter, easy to hold, just needs battery and case discipline.

The practical rule: the brand matters less than the power. A UPS on every till line is the part that saves your Saturday, not the device.

The receipt printer

Thermal printers are the workhorses — no ink, fast, cheap rolls. Three decisions only:

  • Shared or per-till. One network printer serving two tills is a sensible saving instead of two printers and two cables.
  • Width. 80mm suits most counters; 58mm only if your system and paper supply actually agree on it.
  • Paper stock on hand. Buy the roll from a supplier you can reach on a Saturday morning, or the till is a pencil.

The barcode scanner

  • A handheld laser scanner for the counter — instant, cheap, and durable.
  • Camera scanning (in-app) is fine for stock counting on a phone, secondary at the till.
  • Spend a little more on durability than on brand: the counter is where scanners get dropped.

The cash drawer

A cash drawer is mostly mechanical; the detail that matters is that the system drives it electronically after the sale. Pick a size that fits real daily money, with a physical key — and a key policy.

The network and electricity bill

Two purchases matter more than the device: a UPS for the counter, and a router nobody "moves to the back room" while trading. The point: while a sale is being written, nothing else on the network should get to delay it.

Where budgets go wrong

Stores overspend on the beautiful all-in-one package and underspend on the parts that actually serve the queue: a till that survives, a printer that never jams, a UPS that covers the stretch between the generator and the meter. Software is the actual POS stack built for; hardware is just the seat it sits in.

If you want a concrete list for your store size and counter count, talk to us — hardware is usually a two-page answer.